Roof assembly and cleat apparatus

ABSTRACT

A metal roof assembly comprising at least two interlocking elongated sheet metal roofing panels, each roofing panel having a top lock portion, a bottom lock portion, a middle portion between the top lock portion and the bottom lock portion, and having a left side and a right side; a cleat having a flat portion and an inverted substantially-V-shaped portion, the inverted substantially-V-shaped portion being in communication with the flat portion, the cleat in the roof assembly interposed between the top lock portion of a first interlocking elongated sheet metal roofing panels and the bottom lock portion of a second interlocking elongated sheet metal roofing panel; wherein a portion of the bottom lock portion of the second elongated sheet metal roofing panel accepts a portion of the top lock portion of the first elongated sheet metal roofing panel.

This application is a continuing application of, and claims priority to, provisional patent application No. 60/984,543, entitled “CLEAT” Filed Nov. 1, 2007.

The present invention relates generally to metal roof assemblies and more particularly to a cleat apparatus to hold a roof assembly in place on a roof substrate.

Sheet metal roofing systems are often formed by adjoining or overlapping pieces of sheet metal. The main purpose of roofing systems is to create a watertight seal. Accordingly, the connection between adjoining or overlapping pieces of sheet metal must be watertight. Also, it is desirable that the pieces be easy and quick to install, because labor is expensive. Prior art systems frequently require on-site bending or welding to attach sheet metal roofing portions together. This is costly, because time consuming, and also requires additional equipment.

The features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to sheet metal roofing assemblies.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a metal roof assembly is provided comprising at least two interlocking elongated sheet metal roofing panels, each roofing panel having a top lock portion, a bottom lock portion, a middle portion between the top lock portion and the bottom lock portion, and having a left side and a right side; a cleat having a flat cleat portion and an inverted-V-shaped cleat portion, the inverted-V-shaped cleat portion extending from the flat cleat portion; the cleat in the roof assembly interposed between the top lock portion of a first interlocking elongated sheet metal roofing panel and the bottom lock portion of a second interlocking elongated sheet metal roofing panel, and the cleat fixedly fastened to the bottom lock portion and a roof substrate along the flat cleat portion, so that the bottom lock portion of the second elongated sheet metal roofing panel accepts the top lock portion of the first elongated sheet metal roofing panel to create a watertight seal.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a metal roof assembly comprising at least two interlocking elongated sheet metal roofing panels, each roofing panel having a top lock portion, a bottom lock portion, a middle portion between the top lock portion and the bottom lock portion, and having a left side and a right side; wherein the bottom lock portion has an elbow portion in communication with an inverted substantially-V-shaped bottom portion, the inverted substantially-V-shaped bottom portion in communication with a substantially flat bottom portion; wherein the top lock portion has an open triangular flange and an inverted substantially-U-shaped top portion; a cleat having a flat cleat portion and an inverted substantially-V-shaped cleat portion, the inverted substantially-V-shaped cleat portion being in communication with the flat cleat portion, the cleat in the roof assembly interposed between the top lock portion of a first interlocking elongated sheet metal roofing panel and the bottom lock portion of a second interlocking elongated sheet metal roofing panel, and the cleat fixedly fastened to the bottom lock portion and a roof substrate along the flat cleat portion; wherein the elbow portion of the bottom lock portion of the second elongated sheet metal roofing panel accepts the open triangular flange portion of the top lock portion of the first elongated sheet metal roofing panel to create a watertight seal.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts the present invention;

FIG. 2 depicts the present invention;

FIG. 3 depicts the present invention;

FIG. 4 depicts the present invention;

FIG. 5 depicts the present invention;

FIG. 6 depicts the present invention; and

FIG. 7 depicts the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

With reference to FIGS. 1-7, a metal roof assembly is provided comprising at least two interlocking elongated sheet metal roofing panels (10), each roofing panel (10) having a top lock portion (12), a bottom lock portion (14), a middle portion (18) between the top lock portion (12) and bottom lock portion (14), and having a left side (16) and a right side (18); and a cleat (20) having a flat cleat portion (22) and an inverted substantially-V-shaped cleat portion (24), the inverted substantially-V-shaped cleat portion (24) being in communication with the flat cleat portion (22). As depicted in FIG. 4, the cleat (20) in the roof assembly is interposed between the top lock portion (12) of a first interlocking elongated sheet metal roofing panel (30) and the bottom lock portion of a second interlocking elongated sheet metal roofing panel (32). It should be understood that, according to a preferred embodiment, the first interlocking elongated sheet metal roofing panel (30) is identical to a second interlocking elongated sheet metal roofing panel (32) and a multitude of interlocking, elongated, sheet metal roofing panels. In that way, whatever area is required to be covered can be covered by simply connecting more elongated sheet metal roofing panels. As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the cleat is fixedly fastened (by a fastening means such as a nail or screw (28)) to the bottom lock portion (14) and a roof substrate (34) along the flat cleat portion (22). The cleat is not in direct communication with the roof substrate (34), but rather the fastening means may go through the flat portion of the cleat and the bottom lock portion (14). As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a portion (in the embodiment shown, elbow portion 36) of the bottom lock portion of the second elongated sheet metal roofing panel (32) accepts a portion (in the embodiment shown, open triangular flange (44)) of the top lock portion of the first elongated sheet metal roofing panel (30) to create a watertight seal. It should be understood that it is envisioned that there may be any number of elongated sheet metal roofing panels. According to a preferred embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 7, the inverted substantially-V-shaped cleat portion (24) is at an angle between 95 degrees and 105 degrees, preferably 102 degrees, from the flat cleat portion (22), and a second side (50) of the inverted substantially-V-shaped cleat portion is at an angle between 140 degrees and 160 degrees, preferably 145 degrees, from the first side (48) of the inverted substantially-V-shaped cleat portion. The second side (50) is also shorter than the first side (48) according to a preferred embodiment. Also according to a preferred embodiment, the cleat may have a step (42) and second flat portion (54).

As shown in FIG. 5, the bottom lock portion (14) has an elbow portion (36) in communication with an inverted substantially-V-shaped bottom portion (38), the inverted substantially-V-shaped portion (38) in communication with a substantially flat bottom portion (40). The substantially flat bottom portion (40) of the bottom lock portion (14) has at least two holes (FIG. 1 (52)) for receipt of a fastening means (e.g., a screw (FIG. 3 (28)). The top lock portion (12) has an open triangular flange (44) and an inverted substantially-U-shaped portion (46). The open triangular flange portion (44) should be slightly smaller than the elbow portion (36) of the bottom lock portion (14) and be received into the elbow portion (36). The open triangular flange portion is created by folding a piece of sheet metal twice. The triangular flange portion may also be closed without departing from the scope of the present invention. However, there are advantages to an open triangular flange portion, including that the piece may easily adjust to fit into the elbow portion (36).

There may be at least one striation (26) running parallel to the top lock portion (12) and the bottom lock portion (14). A striation (26) is a series of ridges, furrows, or linear marks. According to a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the striations are slightly depressed channels and run along the middle portion (19) between the top lock portion (12) and the bottom lock portion (14) and running from the left side to the right side (FIG. 1, (16) and (18)).

It should be understood that the foregoing relates to preferred embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

1. A metal roof assembly comprising: at least two metal roofing panels, each said metal roofing panel having a top lock portion, a bottom lock portion, a middle portion between said top lock portion and said bottom lock portion and having a left side and a right side; a cleat having a flat cleat portion and an inverted substantially-V-shaped cleat portion, said inverted substantially-V-shaped cleat portion being in communication with said flat cleat portion, said cleat in said roof assembly interposed between said top lock portion of a first metal roofing panel and said bottom lock portion of a second metal roofing panel and wherein said cleat is fixedly fastened to said bottom lock portion and a roof substrate along said flat cleat portion; wherein a portion of said bottom lock portion of said second metal roofing panel accepts a portion of said top lock portion of said first metal roofing panel to create a watertight seal.
 2. A metal roof assembly as in claim 1, wherein a first side of said inverted substantially-V-shaped cleat portion is at an angle between 95 degrees and 105 degrees, preferably 102 degrees, from said flat cleat portion, and a second side of said inverted substantially-V-shaped portion is at an angle between 140 degrees and 160 degrees, preferably 145 degrees, from said first side of said inverted substantially-V-shaped cleat portion.
 3. A metal roof assembly as in claim 1, wherein said bottom lock portion has an elbow portion in communication with an inverted substantially-V-shaped bottom portion, said inverted substantially-V-shaped portion in communication with a substantially flat bottom portion.
 4. A metal roof assembly as in claim 3, wherein said substantially flat bottom portion of said bottom lock portion has at least two holes for receipt of a fastening means.
 5. A metal roof assembly as in claim 3, said cleat further comprising a step and second flat cleat portion, said step being in communication with said flat cleat portion.
 6. A metal roof assembly as in claim 1, further comprising at least one striation running parallel to said top lock portion and said bottom lock portion.
 7. A metal roof assembly as in claim 6, wherein said at least one striation is along said middle portion between said top lock portion and said bottom lock portion and running from said left side to said right side.
 8. A metal roof assembly as in claim 1, wherein said top lock portion has a triangular flange and an inverted substantially-U-shaped top portion.
 9. A metal roof assembly as in claim 8, wherein said open triangular flange portion is slightly smaller than and received in said elbow portion of said bottom lock portion.
 10. A metal roof assembly as in claim 8, wherein said triangular flange is selected from the group consisting of open triangular flange and closed triangular flange.
 11. A metal roof assembly as in claim 1, wherein a first side of said inverted substantially-V-shaped cleat portion is in communication with said flat cleat portion and said second side of said inverted substantially-V-shaped portion has a length less than said first side of said inverted substantially-V-shaped cleat portion.
 12. A metal roof assembly as in claim 1, wherein each of said at least two metal roofing panels are interlocking elongated sheet metal roofing panels.
 13. A metal roof assembly comprising: at least two interlocking elongated sheet metal roofing panels, each said roofing panel having a top lock portion, a bottom lock portion, a middle portion between said top lock portion and said bottom lock portion, and a left side and a right side; wherein said bottom lock portion has an elbow portion in communication with an inverted substantially-V-shaped bottom portion, said inverted substantially-V-shaped bottom portion in communication with a substantially flat bottom portion; wherein said top lock portion has an open triangular flange and an inverted substantially-U-shaped top portion; a cleat having a flat portion and an inverted substantially-V-shaped cleat portion, said inverted substantially-V-shaped cleat portion being in communication with said flat cleat portion, said cleat in said roof assembly interposed between said top lock portion of a first interlocking elongated sheet metal roofing panel and said bottom lock portion of a second interlocking elongated sheet metal roofing panel, and said cleat fixedly fastened to said bottom lock portion and a roof substrate along said flat cleat portion; wherein said elbow portion of said bottom lock portion of said second elongated sheet metal roofing panel accepts said open triangular flange portion of said top lock portion of said first elongated sheet metal roofing panel to create a watertight seal.
 14. A metal roof assembly as in claim 13, wherein a first side of said inverted substantially-V-shaped cleat portion is at an angle between 95 degrees and 105 degrees, preferably 102 degrees, from said flat cleat portion, and a second side of said inverted substantially-V-shaped cleat portion is at an angle between 140 degrees and 160 degrees, preferably 145 degrees, from said first side of said inverted substantially-V-shaped cleat portion.
 15. A metal roof assembly as in claim 13, wherein said substantially flat bottom portion of said bottom lock portion has at least two holes for receipt of a fastening means.
 16. A metal roof assembly as in claim 13, further comprising at least one striation running parallel to said top lock portion and said bottom lock portion.
 17. A metal roof assembly as in claim 16, wherein at least one striation is along said middle portion between said top lock portion and said bottom lock portion and running from said left side to said right side.
 18. A metal roof assembly as in claim 13, wherein said open triangular flange portion is slightly smaller than and received in said elbow portion of said bottom lock portion.
 19. A metal roof assembly as in claim 13, further comprising a step and second flat portion.
 20. A metal roof assembly as in claim 13, wherein a first side of said inverted substantially-V-shaped cleat portion is in communication with said flat cleat portion and said second side of said inverted substantially-V-shaped portion has a length less than said first side of said inverted substantially-V-shaped cleat portion. 